Richmond democrat., 1887-04-21

had made their way 20 this, and the
sound Of hunters rife had not been
heard here for years
| had not gone a quarter of a mile
from camp when a large black snake
ran Kissing away from my feet, and
heard wild beast Of some sort making
its way In the thicket These were
proofs that could not be ovcrprudent.
and thereafter ! kept my eyes about
me and my rifle ready for instant serv-
ice. The village was strung along
the creek for half a mile. but the first
hut ! came 10 was an inclosurc that
had been used for council house.
The four walls were of adobe, while
the roof was matched. There were
really but three walls. one end being
left open except = slight return of each
side wall. This open space was at
least twenty feet across. while there
was room enough inside for 400 people
10 sit or stand. The open end looked
back in the direction / had como. and
twenty feet away was the beginning of a
wall which extended for about 500 feet
1t was about four feet high. made Of
adobe, and / could not make out for
what purpose il had been erected. II
an enemy had been expected 10 APP
proaCh from cast or west this wall
would have been a good breastwork, al
though its left flank could have easily
been turned.
| stood there for three or four min
utes scanning the interior Of the build
ing. and then walked 10 the further end
Cf IT, There was a couple Of whitcncd
skulls on the ground, aud I gave one
Of them kick. As ! did so an insect or
reptile Of some sort issued forth with
great swiftness and StunC or bit me
on the left wrist Its movements were
so rapid that | could not say whether
it flew OF sprsng at me. simply
caught q glimpse or two Of a dark.
hairy object, and then felt the pain.
which was NJ severe a. IL had been
touched with rcd-hot iron. car
ried an sntidotc for insect aud reptile
poisoning. Near the great doorway
was a block Of wood. and | went 10 IL.
pulled of my coat. pushed up my sleeve.
and examined the wound. There was
hut one puncmre. hut II had drawn
blood. and the flesh was rapidly
reddening. l brought my arm mp
and sucked away at the wound for
two or three minutes. and then applied
the antidote and wrapped bandace
about it. | must have drawn the poison
out, but neveIt clcsS | soon found nv
self as weak as babe. and my head
seemed four times too large for NV
body. Indeed. l was afraid TO stand
up for fear that nv body would not
support the head This feeling began
TO 90 away in about fifteen minutes.
and was just congratulating myself
on my lucky escape when turned nv
eyes TO the north. or toward camp.
The sight thrilled me like an electric
shock. Close beside the wall. on the
left hand side, was a tiger. a ruusing
big fellow, who had seen fifteen wears
Of life. On the right hand side. and
also close 10 the base Of the wall. was
medium sized male lion. and the atti-
tude Of bo'h plainly showed that they
had been stalking me. Il was 4 still
hunt, and was the victim The lion
had come out Of the bush to the right.
and the tiger had come out of
thic1et to the left and crossed the creek.
Neither animal could have seen the
other, and thus they were not aware of
each others presence.
Had | remained in the building with
my back to the door another moment
one Of the beasts would undoubtedly
have erept close enough to make
spring. When turned about and sat
down on the block ofwoOdthe movement
upset their calculations and mahe them
tiInid for the moment Under certain
circumstance anywild beast loses heart.
A move which l. surprise and not
clearly understood will make ours Of
them at once. and second move will
put them to ignominious flight When
| got sight Of the beasts the lion
had half turned, as If 10 sneak away.
while the tiger was crouched against
the wall, and appeared shame-faced
Had l risen up and swung my hat and
yelled both would have bolted. but
must confess that. taking my pain and
and the general situation into account,
| was badly ratified. / couldn't think
just what ought to be done. and there
fore did nothing. This. after a moment.
encouraged the beasts. and then came
such situation a. few men were ever
placed in. ! had opportunity to see
here. lion and tiger approaching
victim waiting 10 be struck down. !
have wondered thousand times what
could have come over me to si- there
with my gun within reach and my re-
volver in its holster and make not the
slightest move to save my life. while
those fierce brutes crept nearer and
nearer. think the poison benumbcd
and stupiiied me 10 certain extent
] hat is, while my brain was never more
active and my eye-sight keen, felt
helpless to move. and my mouth was
As dry as if had the fever. ! knew
my peril as fully as any one could, but
when | thought Of grasping my rife
and sighting it the exertiOn required
discouraged me.
The lion was the bolder Of the two.
After making up his mind that could
not harm him, he held his head up.
swung his tail about. and advanced at
a slow pace. was under cover. and
he might have suspected trap. But
for this be would have probably made
rush. The tiger displayed exactly the
same characteristics As cat creeping
upon her prey. He crcpt, crawled.
twisted about, and sought to shelter
his body behind sie slightest tuft Of
grass. He did not however. take his
eyes of me for the tenth Of second.
and the nearer he came the more his
great lips parted 10 show his yellow
teeth. He was as supple a. a snake,
and nothing could be more graceful
than his movements. could see his
tremendous muscles quiver a. he moy-
ed, and ! remember OF what power he
must have in his legs. !; was all Of
ten minutes before the beasts approach
cd the point whore they realized each
others presence. You would have
thought, with only a wall separating
them, that they must have heard or
scented each other The fact that they
/ did not was probably owing 10 the
excitement under which they laborcd.
ny and by the lion was almost at the
end 4 tho wall aud pa,r ..rg.,,sgI, L..